SATURDAY • JULY 26 • 9 AM – 5 PM
Royal Oak senior center closed for renovations
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Center is now closed for the start of renovations and repairs.
On June 23, the Royal Oak City Com-
mission approved a $564,000 renovation project that will fund a number of essential improvements including renovated bathrooms, new flooring, ceiling tiles and paint throughout. The money will also cover a new generator and electrical updates.
Royal Oak’s architect, Kreiger Klatt Architects, reviewed bids and interviewed the three
low bidders on the project. Krieger Klatt recommended Usztan LLC to perform the work.
According to Kevin Yee, director of public services, who spoke during the meeting, the renovations should be completed by Aug. 18, when the senior center will reopen prior to preschool beginning on Sept. 2.
Sheriff links Royal Oak neurologist arrested in Southfield to human trafficking ring
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK/SOUTHFIELD — A Royal Oak resident and neurologist, 47-year-old Gireesh Velugubanti, is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond after being accused of trading medical care for sex from a human trafficking victim. Velugubanti was arraigned in Southfield, the location in which he worked, on June 27 before 46th District Court Magistrate Sharon Woodside. He is charged with human trafficking and conspiracy to deliver or manufacture a controlled substance less than 50 grams.
On June 26, Velugubanti was ar-
Velugubanti
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The Royal Oak Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Center, seen here July 2, is undergoing renovations that are expected to be completed by Aug. 18.
Photo by Kevin Walsh
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
CLAWSON — The Clawson City Council is facing a decision on who will be appointed to fill its open seat after finding out that its top candidate had an unpaid water bill.
The City Council did a ranking system to deter-
mine which of the four finalists would fill the empty seat until the November election. Richard Scott received three votes, Alexander Aprile and Andrea LaLonde received two votes, and Lauren Mattar received one vote.
Scott, a 29-year resident of Clawson, was chosen by the council July 1 to fill the vacancy on City Council left by Matthew Binkowski’s resignation, but now
Royal Oak post office celebrates 200 years
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — Join retired letter carrier John Dick at the Royal Oak Historical Society at 7 p.m. July 11 to learn about the rich history of the U.S. Postal Service in Royal Oak and beyond.
The Royal Oak post office is celebrating its bicentennial, and in honor of that, Dick will be giving a presentation called “The Royal Oak Post Office: 200 Years of Community and Service.”
Dick is a member of the Michigan State Association of Letter Carriers Executive Board and has his own history as a letter carrier.
The presentation will dive into the post office’s beginning as a log cabin to becoming a regional postal powerhouse.
“Mail is easy to overlook, but every letter tells a piece of Royal Oak’s story,” Judy Davids, Royal Oak community engagement specialist, said. “This event brings that history to life. The history of Royal Oak’s post office is sometimes quirky, sometimes tragic, but always fascinating.”
The program will include authentic early postal uniforms, trivia quizzes
Jacob Erb’s store, Erb’s Corner, acted as the city’s first post office.
Clawson City Council postpones decision on who will fill its empty seat
it is up in the air if he will be the new council member due to the unpaid water bill.
The interviews of the finalists took place June 30, and the council made its decision in favor of Scott on July 1.
“I wrote so many things on what people said yesterday, and I was inspired by everyone,” Mayor Paula
Photo provided by Royal Oak Public Library
NEWS & NOTES
Two events happening in Clawson during July
CLAWSON — On July 21, the Hunter Community and Senior Center, 509 Fisher Court, will be hosting the National Parks and Recreation Month open house.
The open house will include food from local vendors, demonstration classes, and a chance to meet the staff, partners and community groups related to the Clawson Parks and Recreation Department.
Local nonprofits and other Clawson groups will be on-site to share resources, volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved.
Bounce houses, games and hands-on activities will also be at the open house.
From 2 to 4 p.m July 31 at Grant Park, 926 Grant Avenue, the Oakland County Parks will be hosting a Summer Fun Day and Camp Chill.
Camp Chill will include arctic-themed activities, games and outdoor fun. The event is free of charge.
For more information visit cityofclawson.com.
Historical society brings back ‘Woodward Memories’ exhibit
ROYAL OAK — “Woodward Memories,” a popular exhibit by the Royal Oak Historical Society, is now open until July 26 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1411 W. Webster Road.
“Woodward Memories” goes through drive-ins, bowling alleys and businesses that made Woodward Avenue popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
The exhibit is free of charge. More information can be found at royaloakhistoricalsociety.com.
DETROIT ZOO HOSTS CONCERT SERIES
ROYAL OAK — Every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 9 to Aug. 27, the Detroit Zoo will be hosting the Wild Summer Nights concert series.
Wild Summer Nights offers three extra hours to explore the Detroit Zoo, including full access to habitats, buildings and attractions, and live music from local artists in the Main Picnic Grove.
New to this year, guests arriving after 6 p.m. on event nights can get reduced admission at the gate. No pre-purchase is needed; the prices are $13 for general admission and $12 for youth and seniors.
If you have been at the zoo all day on event days, the event is free with zoo admission.
For more information, visit detroitzoo.org.
Event swims into Detroit July 11
DETROIT — The seventh annual Swim Across America — Motor City Mile Open Water Swim will make a splash July 11 as swimmers gather to raise money to fight against cancer. The event will be held at the Belle Isle Beach House. Participants can choose from quarter-mile, halfmile, 1-mile or 2-mile courses, and land and water volunteers are also needed to help with the event. Proceeds benefit the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. To register to swim or volunteer, visit swimacrossamerica.org/motorcitymile.
Photo provided by Swim Across America — Motor City Mile Open Water Swim
Interviews for open seat on Clawson City Council held June 30
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
CLAWSON — The Clawson City Council interviewed four candidates — Alexander Aprile, Andrea LaLonde, Lauren Mattar and Richard Scott — June 30, all having a chance to be the one to take the place on council of the recently resigned Matthew Binkowski.
“We are really grateful to each of you who are interested in filling the void we have on our City Council right now,” Mayor Paula Millan said. “We thank you for submitting all of your documentation and coming here this evening, and we look forward to having conversations with each of you.”
Alexander Aprile
Kicking off the interviews was Alexander Aprile, eight-year resident and member of the Clawson Parks and Recreation Board, who stated in his application that he is dedicated to community service and volunteer work.
“I have worked for three different mem-
bers of Congress that I have served under, so I’ve got a breadth of experience of different personalities but also interacting with constituents and interacting with public officials, which I think really sets me up perfectly for a role like this,” Aprile said.
Currently, Aprile works as the deputy district director for the congresswoman who serves Michigan’s 9th Congressional District, Lisa McClain. Aprile said that within his jobs working for members of Congress, he specializes in working directly with the community.
Council member Bruce Anderson asked Aprile if he can think of any issues that need to be addressed within the city of Clawson.
Aprile said that with his experience working under various officials, he predicts the issues are similar within each city: water, infrastructure, taxes, millages and services. He mentioned that the No. 1 issue is probably money, including funding, resources and how money plays into the projects and things going on within the city.
“I think that is always going to be at the forefront of how money is being raised
See INTERVIEWS on page 15A
IMMIGRANTS THRIVE IN BUSINESS, SHARE AMERICAN CULTURE
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
The United States of America is the melting pot of people and cultures: a nation built on the dreams of people who came here from around the world, often to escape persecution.
Three business owners in C & G’s coverage area recently took the time to share their stories of how they found their dream through hard work, determination, and dedication in America.
‘If you apply yourself, you can make it’
Johnette Eggert, owner of Elite Bridal and Donate a Gown USA Int’l in Farmington Hills, came to the U.S. 30 years ago to escape the civil war in her native Liberia.
“I think it was the best decision they made for me,” Eggert said of her parents’ decision to bring her to the U.S.
She said she knows Africa and recalled seeing people get lined up and slaughtered in Liberia. She said people from Africa would be grateful just to be
here in the U.S. and to have the chance to obtain their dreams.
“It’s America, and the whole world fits in America. America is a big enough light. You go to Liberia, and people would give anything in the world to come here. Even if they’re sleeping on the street, they know that they can go to the church and get food. You can go and get a job. If you apply yourself, you can make it,” Eggert said.
She said entrepreneurship runs in her blood. Her parents founded the Richard M. Nixon Academy in 1965, a private school in Liberia for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Eggert said she believes education is the key to success for anyone. She also strives to help provide food to the community by donating to Cares in Farmington Hills.
Through the bridal shop, Eggert said she hopes to help local youth continue their education by providing scholarships. She also wants to support the schools her parents started in Liberia, where a teacher makes $25 and a principal, $75.
It was her father’s kindness and generosity to
TOP: Johnette Eggert came to the U.S. from Liberia 30 years ago. She said owning a business was a dream of hers after working as a substitute teacher in Madison Heights and hearing girls say how they wished there was an affordable store where they could shop for highend dresses.
BOTTOM: Mariana Steganha said she and her husband, Rodrigo, decided to look into franchising their own Biggby Coffee business after the birth of their second child. Since coffee is such an important part of Brazilian culture, they thought it was the perfect type of business to get involved in.
Photos by Charity Meier
DETROIT CITY FOOTBALL CLUB CONTINUES TO REDEFINE DETROIT SPORTS
BY SCOTT BENTLEY sbentley@candgnews.com
DETROIT — Detroit City Football Club has grown from an idea between friends to an established professional sports team in Detroit at a rapid pace.
The club has not only found extreme success on the field, but is impacting the community off the field. DCFC continues to grow, and the team’s story resonates with Detroiters in the best possible way.
“The best thing DCFC has going for it
Photo provided by DCFC
Detroit City Football Club plays a game at night under the lights at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.
HOMES
Experts offer advice to protect gardens from hungry deer, rabbits and insects
BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
Many homeowners take pride in the creation of their gardens and foliage, so protection of that area is key.
Whether it’s small insects or roaming deer, intruders can have a profound effect on a home’s garden and greens.
David Lowenstein, a consumer horticulture educator with Michigan State University’s Macomb County Extension Office, said homeowners should consider modifying the habitat of their garden area to prevent wildlife from finding it.
“Especially for deer, any kind of fencing would be very helpful for keeping them away,” he said. “The other option would be repellents. So, foul smells or products that have hot pepper that would repel deer and/or rabbits. You have to be careful, though, by applying them directly to plants that you might eat, to make sure that if you use them, that it’s acceptable use within them (guidelines for use). Then for rabbits, removing any kind of brushy or weedy areas that are unmanaged where you see rabbits going, if they have less spaces to hide, that might be a way to reduce the amount of time that they spend on your property when they’re not feeding.”
Lowenstein explained that animals such as deer and rabbits are not picky when it comes to eating plants, as they will feed on a variety of evergreen shrubs like arborvitae, yews and hollies.
He also said they will feed on different kinds of perennials and, particularly for rabbits, they like tender, young plants.
“Early in the season is when there’s the highest risk of damage to your garden,”
Lowenstein said. “If you’re just planting something new, that would be the main time to think about putting up small wire cages or some kind of small fencing to keep the rabbits away. Rabbits are less likely to feed on mature plants, whereas deer are the ones that pose a greater risk to both mature and younger plants.”
“Deer are less likely to feed on plants whose foliage is hairy or that has strong odors or that has spines on it,” he continued. “So, things like lamb’s ears, ornamental grasses, catmint, Russian sage, they don’t like feeding on those plants.”
Matt Colonius, co-owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township, said the first thing homeowners should do is identify what kind of pest they’re dealing with, as the biggest mistake they could make is to misidentify what issue they’re dealing with.
Colonius said fencing, netting and
chicken wire are good for protection from these animals. For gophers, rabbits and squirrels, homeowners can use castor oil and scent-based repellent such as cayenne.
Issues with deer tend to be the most frequent complaints that Colonius hears from his customers, as deer go after all kinds of plants, flowers and vegetables. He recommended Deer Scram to help repel the mammals.
“It’s not affected by rain,” he said. “It’s like a granule powder and … it gets washed away when it rains. So, the Deer Scram is highly recommended to keep the deer out of the garden.”
In the cases of insects invading the gardens, each year can be different as to what insects arrive, Lowenstein said.
Annually, there will be the same insects such as aphids, sawflies on roses and squash vine borers on squashes, but there also will be less-common insects that peak every few years.
“This year, I’ve been seeing a lot of reports of insect borers in different native plants,” he said. “So, these are either moths or beetles that lay their eggs towards the tip of the plant, and then it causes the tips, including the flower bud, to wilt. So, it doesn’t look like anything is wrong externally, just the plants are wilting. It seems almost like a watering issue.
See GARDENS on page 17A
Photo by David Wallace
Shutterstock image
ABOVE: “Yew look delicious,” thinks this deer as it approaches a shrub at a home in metro Detroit.
BELOW: Gypsy moth caterpillars can cause significant damage to roses, leading to weakened plants.
Vacancy
from page 3A
Millan said July 1. “I think it’s really hopeful that we have people of the caliber who came forth and submitted the information and then took their time to come out and speak with us.”
Millan said that her personal decision was on who might be best at this time, and who has the most background knowledge on Clawson.
“With Mr. Scott, my reasoning was he has worked on the Planning Commission for the last year or two and planning is like the best ground-laying education system you can get in this community if you want to figure out how to do what we do,” Millan said.
Mayor Pro Tem Susan Moffitt said that she was hoping to get new people on the council who have not already been friends of council members.
“I hope those people will decide to run and we will see them in November and onward and upward,” Moffitt said.
Council member Bruce Anderson said he liked all four candidates, addressing the three who did not get chosen, saying that they should run in the November election.
Following the vote, City Manager Joe
Rheker mentioned the unpaid water bill. The council had the information about the unpaid water bill before the June 30 interviews, Moffitt said, but the council was concentrating on its prepared questions for all candidates.
Section 4.31 in the city charter in regard to defaulters not qualified to hold office says that “no person who has been convicted of theft, misuse, or appropriation of public funds or is in default to the city or any other governmental subdivision of the state of Michigan or who has been convicted of a felony shall be elected or appointed to any office of the city,” Rheker said.
According to Rheker, Scott’s last water bill was due on June 23 and he still owed $245.
Moffitt did not think that the council should go forward with appointing Scott because of the unpaid bill and wanted to stand by the rules of the charter.
The council went back and forth trying to determine the definition of “default” in terms of the charter but was unable to figure out what exactly qualifies as default.
“The criteria for the charter says that if someone is in default that they’ve explained several times it’s more than just this current past due bill, so that’s a minimum standard
See VACANCY on page 16A
BEHIND THE WHEEL
12A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • JULY 9, 2025
There’s nothing ‘middle’ of the road about these cars
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
There is a large group of micro/mini car owners nationwide who meet occasionally to bond over the unique vehicles they own.
They travel across state lines for activities geared toward quirky cars, funny stories and camaraderie.
Jim Golomb, of Northfield, Illinois, is one such car buff. He just organized the fourth annual Meet in the Middle Micro Car/Mini Car 2025. Micro/mini car owners from Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico and more trailered their vintage vehicles and met up June 20-21 in Macomb County.
Marty and Marybeth Abramson, for instance, made the trip with their 1971 British Bond Bug all the way from Niagara Falls, New York. Jeff Lane, of Nashville, Tennessee, brought three mini cars along for the ride. Lane felt right at home with the other micro car fanatics: he owns the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.
A microcar usually has three or four wheels with an engine smaller than 700 cubic centimeters. Types of microcars include bubble cars, cyclecars, Invacars, quadricycles and voiturettes.
Meet in the Middle was supposed to kick-start
See CARS on page 19A
TOP LEFT: John Golomb, of Northfield, Illinois, poses with his 1955 Messerschmitt. He coordinated the events for the micro/mini drivers. BELOW: Marty and Marybeth Abramson, of Niagara Falls, New York, brought their 1971 British Bond Bug to the fourth annual Meet in the Middle Micro Car/Mini Car 2025.
ABOVE: The Amphicar, designed by Hans Trippel, is a vehicle that operates on land and water.
BOTTOM LEFT: Jeff Lane, of Nashville, Tennessee, unloads one of three mini cars. Lane, who owns the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, drove his 1958 Vespa to Sanders Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppe in Clinton Township June 20. Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
Post office
and prizes, cake, and a chance to meet Valerie Vercek William, the current Royal Oak postmaster, according to a press release sent out by the city of Royal Oak.
“John Dick will bring Royal Oak’s history to life from the unique perspective of a longtime letter carrier,” Davids said. “Add in trivia, giveaways and cake, and you’ve got a celebration. It’s not a lecture, it’s a front-row seat to 200 years of great stories.”
“James Lockwood, the first postmaster, was appointed by John Quincy Adams on April 6, 1825,” according to “The Royal Oak Post Office: A History” on romi.gov. Lockwood lived in a log cabin on the site of the present Washington Square Plaza building on Sherman Drive.
Jacob Erb, postmaster in 1880, had a store on the southeast corner of Main and Third streets, which was the first official post office building Royal Oak saw. Mail was delivered via horse and buggy.
“From stagecoaches to ZIP codes, the post office has done it all,” Dick said. “It’s a tale of politics, perseverance and progress with a few surprising characteristics along the way.”
Davids said that this year has been full of monumental moments for Royal Oak landmarks, such as the Royal Oak Farmers Market, which is celebrating 100 years.
“In 1925 alone, over 500 homes were built. The iconic post office on Second Street broke ground in 1935, and Royal Oak Middle School turns 100 in 2027. Big milestones — but the Royal Oak post office dates all the way back to 1825. That’s remarkable, and absolutely worth celebrating ... and yes, eating cake for,” Davids said.
The postal system has been a trusted source of information and communication for 250 years, and it continues to connect people in the community.
“On my front porch, I’ve received college acceptance letters for my kids, passports, holiday cards from loved ones in Europe, care packages for former exchange students who once called our home theirs — and the friendship of my letter carrier,” Davids said.
The program is $15 per person and includes refreshments and a piece of cake. The space is limited to 50 guests.
For more information, visit royaloakhistoricalsociety.com.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (5860 498-1081.
N
$3.50 Labatt Drafts & Miller Light
ABOVE: John Dick will be presenting the history of the post office at the Royal Oak Historical Society.
LEFT: Dick points out where he is in a photo of Royal Oak post office employees.
Photos provided by Judy Davids
DCFC
is the people,” DCFC co-owner and Chief Creative Officer Alex Wright said. “It’s folks that are passionate for soccer but also really dedicated to not only growing the game, but making the community a better place.”
One of the many unique traits that DCFC has is the path to becoming a professional team. In most major sports, Detroit teams were a part of the league’s inception, or joined as an established professional team. DCFC began as a summer league team and has worked its way up the American soccer ranks to become professional.
“It’s been less than 15 years since the five of us got together over some beers and kicked in a few thousand dollars and created a men’s summer league team.” Wright said. “It’s really hard to be the fifth pro team in any city … and we don’t take that for granted. It’s the privilege of being the fifth team.”
The success that DCFC has seen is something many other soccer teams in the area have attempted to create over the years. This club has integrated itself into the community in a way that few other teams in the state can match.
“We’ve tapped into the unique things that soccer does that other sports can’t in this community. … The U6 boys and girls that take to the pitch, across our state now, are wearing the exact same jerseys as our professional team does,” Wright said. “That’s an incredible strength of our organization, the fact that you can be a part of the club and never really grow out of it.”
The club is an example of getting back what is put into something. The ownership group has invested heavily into the community, and the community has responded by showing out for DCFC.
“Those of us who founded the club, and those of us who are leaders in the organization, we’re not really up in some ivory tower looking down on the game,” Wright said. “We are the ones on the sidelines. We were the ones when this first started that were mowing the lawn and selling the tickets. … There’s accountability baked into so much of what we do.”
DCFC is also a beacon of hope in terms of growing the game of soccer in the Detroit area.
“The additional responsibility that we take very seriously is growing the game within our city,” Wright said. “We are consciously doing a ton of work in the Black community and in the Hispanic community to grow the game. … We’re doing everything we can to make sure that we are growing a team that is accessible to everyone and that looks like our community.”
One of the biggest projects to make the game more accessible to everyone is a new stadium for the club that’s expected to be ready by the start of the 2027 season. The pitch will be at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 20th Street, where the former Southwest Detroit Hospital is located.
“The community is buzzing about the thought of a soccer-specific stadium downtown, bridging Corktown and southwest Detroit,” Wright said. “It’s not just folks that love soccer, it’s folks that love Detroit and understand how perfect that location is. … It’s an incredible progression going from a high school field at Cass Tech (to the new stadium).”
DCFC has played at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck since 2016. The club raised money to renovate Keyworth almost a decade ago and has been thrilled with how the stadium has thrived and grown with the team.
A lot of the executives and higher-ups within DCFC are also Detroit sports fans in general.
“We take pride in growing this team in a way that reflects the values of a new generation of Detroiters,” DCFC CEO Sean Mann said. “And doing it in a way that matches the passion and commitment that our community has always had for sports.”
The goal is to inspire the metro Detroit youth to play soccer and in turn get the kids of the area to pass down their love and passion for DCFC in the future.
“The effect of the club’s rise has inspired youth programs across the region and fostered a sense of civic pride that extends beyond the pitch,” Mann said. “We are the only local club where kids can wear the uniform the pros wear; it’s a small thing, but it resonates.”
What was once an idea between friends is now a club that has men’s, women’s, and youth teams throughout its organization. Detroit City Football Club plays games throughout the summer at Keyworth Stadium, 3201 Roosevelt St, Hamtramck, MI 48212. For more information, visit detcityfc.com.
Call Sports Writer Scott Bentley at (586) 498-1090.
Trafficking
from page 1A
rested in his Royal Oak home by members of the Oakland County Human Trafficking Task Force, according to an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office press release. Velugubanti allegedly is a part of what the Sheriff’s Office called the Sonesta Suites trafficking ring, involving three other defendants who face trafficking charges.
Police said they found text messages between Velugubanti and one of the other defendants that show that Velugubanti was arranging commercial sex with trafficking victims as well as purchasing drugs.
The texts also depict that Velugubanti was unhappy with one of the trafficking victims, never wanted to see her again, and said she would no longer receive free health care, according to the press release.
The number of trafficked victims is not yet being released to the public, as it is an ongoing investigation, according to Sheriff’s Office public information officer Stephen Huber.
“It is difficult to conceive of a component of human trafficking that worsens the situation, but the fact that the alleged perpetrator we uncovered in this investigation is a doctor makes it even more disturbing,” Bouchard said in a prepared statement. “How can someone who has sworn the Hippocratic oath to ‘do no harm’ be involved in such absolutely violating and disgusting behavior? There needs to be a full reckoning for this at the bar of justice.”
The arrest of Velugubanti is the second one made by the Human Trafficking Task Force. The press release states that in March a Clinton Township man with five felony convictions on his record was charged with the human trafficking of a Saginaw woman.
A probable cause conference for Velugubanti was set for 8:30 a.m. July 10 in Southfield.
Velugubanti’s attorney, Mark Berke, could not be reached for comment by press time.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 4981081.
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Interviews
or how taxes are being raised or collected and where that money is being spent, and is it being spent efficiently and effectively as getting the best bang for the buck for the residents here in Clawson,” he said. “I know that’s something I will focus on if I am lucky enough to be on the City Council.”
Aprile had the opportunity to share how he would handle conflict within the council and community.
“One thing I have always done and I will continue to do is listen to what they (the public) have to say. I might not always agree with it, but I will listen because maybe they have some ideas that I have never thought of,” he said. “I think it’s important to at least be open to those ideas, and I believe that most people, if they truly think you’re receptive and at least listening and taking in, absorbing their ideas, then it does not raise the tension or create animosity, it creates a mutual understanding to sometimes agree to disagree.”
Andrea LaLonde
The second candidate interviewed was Andrea LaLonde, who currently works as an executive coordination manager for Pangea Made. LaLonde also served as the chair of the Road Commission for Oakland County
CRIME WATCH
Dunkin’ cash stolen
Board of Road Commissioners from 2019 to January of 2025.
“When the opportunity came up here (in Clawson), it was an opportunity for me to reconnect with the community. I felt kind of dissociated a little since leaving working with the county,” LaLonde said.
LaLonde said her willingness to adapt, to learn and to be open made her a good candidate for the council. LaLonde answered a question about some of the biggest issues facing the city of Clawson and chose to talk about infrastructure.
“Now you guys have gotten to the point where you are seeing infrastructure money come in, and that’s absolutely fabulous,” LaLonde said. “It’s just keeping it focused, and I wish it could have been more … but it’s something that honestly I think is one of your biggest challenges, because without the infrastructure, you don’t bring in the business.”
LaLonde said that she would want to see a difference in small policies that affect community members on a daily basis.
“It’s stuff that is so simple and minute because that’s what people care about,” she said. “I mean there are broader things that may be important to the city as a whole, but people aren’t looking at the broader thing. They’re looking at how do you enhance their lives, and that’s when they see the value in the City Council.”
When LaLonde was asked how she
would handle conflict, she said she would prioritize listening and helping the community understand where the council is coming from in terms of decisions made.
Lauren Mattar
The third candidate, Lauren Mattar, a six-year resident of Clawson, currently works as the director of mobility initiatives at NextEnergy in Detroit. In her application form, she said that her work with projects and programs has directly impacted cities and communities, helping her understand working with smaller communities.
“The work I do at the nonprofit has been the most relevant to this. I will admit I am not coming from a big political background, and I have not really been a super big name here in Clawson, but I thought this was a good opportunity to get involved,” Mattar said.
Mattar said she has not previously worked on a board or commission, but she wants to be able to bring a fresh approach and perspective to the table.
Mattar said that infrastructure is one of the biggest issues facing Clawson.
“My understanding of what the community needs are and what the desires are is roads and then the associated flooding, which kind of go hand in hand,” she said.
“I saw on the next agenda that there are obviously projects underway to improve the roads, so I think just continuing a lot of that work.”
When approaching conflict as a council member, Mattar said she would utilize her skills from her background to use an analytical approach to figure out solutions.
“Part of the interesting part in my background is that I have done a lot of community engagement and other things recently, but I have an engineering degree, experience in project management and program management, so I also bring an analytical approach to things,” she said.
Richard Scott
Richard Scott, a 29-year resident of Clawson and an information technology professional who is currently unemployed, was the fourth candidate interviewed. His last job was as the director of professional services at Red Level Group in Novi.
Scott has been on the Planning Commission for 2 1/2 years and said that he has had multiple recommendations from neighbors to join the City Council.
“This opportunity on council came up, and I thought, ‘Let’s try it.’ I think the council would be great,” Scott said.
See INTERVIEWS on page 16A
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 10 p.m. June 21 and 4 a.m. June 22, an unknown person broke into the Dunkin at 1700 W. 14 Mile Road and stole money from the cash register.
Purse stolen from employee breakroom
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 1 a.m. June 20, an unknown person stole a purse from the employee breakroom at the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital at 3601 W. 13 Mile Road.
Food stolen from Holiday Market
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 12:20 p.m. June 23, an unknown person stole various food items from the Holiday Market at 1203 S. Main St.
Parking gate broken
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 11: 40 p.m. June 21, an unknown person broke the parking structure gate arm while trying to leave at 222 S. Center St.
Car damaged by thrown objects
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that at 8 p.m. June 25, an unknown person threw objects at the complainant’s car, causing minor damage, near 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.
— Taylor Christensen
from page 1A
All staff of the senior center have been relocated to the Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, until the reopening.
According to romi.gov, transportation and travel will continue as usual, as well as the older adult support programs such as the Royal Oak Senior Essential Services and Adjacent Generational Exchange counseling.
For those registered for a program, staff of the senior center will be in touch to update on how that will be handled. The staff, according to romi.gov, is working to find alternative locations for programs to minimize the impact on services.
City Commissioner Brandon Kolo voiced concern about the rescheduling and canceling of activities.
“I looked at the Senior Times, which is a great resource, and I counted 86 activities in July alone, and I think I saw accommodations for about 11 of them so far, so do we have a list or a spreadsheet somewhere of what activities we have that are still planned and that are canceled, that relocated, and where they are going?” he said.
“We do have everything that’s active right now we have on the front of our software and we are going through every single one of them including all of the people that have already bought lunches for July, we are going through and calling every single one of them,” Coordinator of Senior Citizens Activities Yolanda Botello McClain said. “Some of our Lunch and Learn, things like that, we will reschedule in the fall and the winter.
Those presentations have told us they will come back and reschedule.”
Kolo was concerned about the preparedness of the senior center, questioning why rescheduling and calling for programs had not been done during the weeks leading up to this construction, considering this project has been in the works for three years.
“This is an amazing renovation, there’s a $500,000 investment going to the senior center to light it up and to give it a refresh,” he said. “This is a huge win for the community that I don’t think we are executing well.”
Joe Gachicoch, city manager, said he thinks this is a good investment for the community, but agreed with Kolo.
“Big picture, I think this is a great investment. In 42 days from now, I’m glad that it will be ready to reopen in time for preschool, but I take the point that there are coordination and communication gaps and project management needs, specifically with anticipating needs, that can be improved,” he said.
Mayor Michael Fournier said that he thinks the senior center staff did plan accordingly, but because of the quick turnaround, they had to make fast adjustments.
“It sounds like there were some rough plans in place. We were warning people when they signed up (for programs) that we were going to have construction this summer, so I think some of the pre-planning was very good,” he said.
At the end of the discussion, the commission voted unanimously to award the senior center with $564,000.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
Interviews
from page 15A
Scott said that his time on the Planning Commission had set him up to be a successful candidate for City Council. He referenced that some decisions are not easy, and it has helped him become more aware of how to lead on a commission or council.
“There’s different perspectives that may come up that you didn’t even think about,” he said. “All of the experiences on planning have been somewhat like that. … I feel like we are supposed to be up there representing the citizenry here in Clawson and try to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone in Clawson.”
Scott said that some of the more pressing issues in Clawson are related to taxes.
“I think we need to be very careful with asking our residents to spend more money,” he said. “I want the city to be successful and I want (City Manager) Joe (Rheker) to have what he needs to be able to provide the kind of services that the city needs and wants, but I think that we need to be judicious about how we use funds.”
Scott also mentioned infrastructure and changes to be made within that realm such as road improvements.
Scott said that he would change the policy on short-term rentals.
“We need to have something in place for short-term rentals, because we don’t want them to get out of control,” he said. “There have been a fair amount of complaints that I know about, even in my own neighborhood, about short-term rentals that exist. … We just need to be careful with the proliferation of short-term rentals.”
When given the opportunity to explain how he would handle conflict, Scott said that he would try to look at both sides when making decisions.
“You have to put yourself in each other’s shoes,” he said. “You need to be openminded to potentially change your mind and try to do the best you can for the residents of the city.”
The full interviews can be found on the City of Clawson YouTube page. For more information, visit cityofclawson.com.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
Enjoy Outdoor Grilling & Entertaining at its Finest
that we’ve set for people to sit on this dais, and I think that we have an obligation to uphold the charter,” Moffitt said. “We have a playing field of really great candidates, so we should look at the next viable candidate based on this information.”
“Yes, and if you hadn’t selected this candidate as your No. 4 choice, you would probably rally a little,” Millan replied.
“That’s absolutely not true; I believe in upholding the charter,” Moffitt said. “That’s what the people voted on. That’s the standard they wanted us to govern by.”
Millan said that she would have fought for this regardless of who the frontrunner was.
“I feel a default is when it goes to your tax roll. I do not believe a default is because you were late. I don’t think it’s the same thing,” Millan said. “I am 100% with fol-
lowing our charter, but I personally do not feel that being a week late on a bill makes you a defaulter.”
Council member Glenn Shepard agreed with Millan.
“The fact that it’s paid or not paid I don’t feel, again, it’s opinion, but that’s the reason why I am looking for someone else that defines what ‘default’ means,” Shepard said. “Is it (a default) because if it’s malice? I mean, I don’t think there is malice involved.”
“The motion is that we do not proceed with this, this evening, until we have an opinion by an attorney that shows us where in our community we use the word ‘default’ and that we look at our past due water bills and see at what point do we consider it default,” Millan said.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 15 at City Hall.
For more information, visit www. cityofclawson.com.
Call Staff Writer Taylor Christensen at (586) 498-1081.
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those less fortunate that ultimately spared his life in Liberia. Eggert’s father, John Woolu, worked for the Liberian government and was on a hit list. However, the hitman who was assigned to assassinate her father recognized him and recalled how he had fed him as a young boy, when his family was homeless. So instead of killing him, he took her parents to the border, where they were able to return to the U.S.
Eggert said the business was a dream of hers after working as a substitute teacher in Madison Heights for many years and hearing girls repeatedly say how they wished there was an affordable store where they could shop for high-end dresses.
“I had a dream and for months and months, I kept thinking about the dream, and I kept thinking about the vision, and what I would hear the students say about how they wished they had a place that was fancy and had a set up that wasn’t like a thrift store, but still be getting a resale item that was high end, and I was like, ‘I can do that.’ And here it is,” she said.
‘The feeling of brightness and happiness was the first feeling I had’
Jenny Wu, who owns three Chinese restaurants, came to the U.S. as a child in 1981 to escape political turmoil in her native China. Her family was labeled as traitors to the country by the Communist Party.
“There was a lot of changes. I noticed the streets were brighter. The streetlights just made it seem like America was really beau-
Gardens
from page 10A
… It really depends on the kind of crop, too. Some insects are specialists. Others, like Japanese beetles, will feed on almost any kind of foliage.”
Lowenstein said a lot of destructive insects have beneficial insects, predators and parasitoid wasps that will attack them. Because of this, he doesn’t recommend using insecticides as the first option for controlling insect pests.
“If you have a garden that has a variety of wildflowers, the same kind of plants that are good for pollinators are also good for a lot of these beneficial insects,” he said. “The other strategies would depend on the insect pests. For plants, like aphids, they can be sprayed off the plant with a strong force of water.
tiful,” Wu said of her initial impression of America. “Back in the day in China wasn’t like how it is now. They didn’t allow people to have lights or have anything really. The streets were always dark at night. So that alone, just entering into the United States, the feeling of brightness and happiness was the first feeling I had.”
She said initially, a language barrier caused her family to struggle with employment for a while. She said they only came to the U.S. with approximately $30 and two suitcases. Eventually, her mom started one of the restaurants Wu owns with a friend in order to help her godson get a green card. However, her mom, a pianist, did not really care for the stress of the restaurant business, and her mom’s godson didn’t care for it, either. So Wu, who had gone to school at the University of Michigan for organizational studies, which incorporates business with psychology, ultimately took over the business and expanded it. At one point, she owned four restaurants across metro Detroit: JJ Crab House and Lucky Kitchen, in Ann Arbor; Sapporo Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi, in Livonia; and her largest one, Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, in Novi. After 13 years in Novi, she closed the restaurant this year but still maintains her other locations.
Wu said she has faced some challenges as an immigrant business owner over the years, especially when there was the SARS epidemic, which originated from Hong Kong.
“SARS was a big challenge for me. A lot of people didn’t want to come eat Chinese food,” said Wu. “Also, back in 1993 when I started it, a lot of people saw Chinese food as really unhealthy. So yeah, there’s always challenges.”
Other types of insect pests, maybe they need row covers to put over the plants to stop them from actually reaching the foliage. Or, as a last case resort, insecticides if the insect pest is causing damage to the point where, if it’s not controlled, it’ll kill the plant completely.”
One suggestion Colonius offered was to use neem oil to protect your garden. Neem oil is used to control black spot mildew, rust, spider mites and aphids. It helps prevent bugs, but it also helps injured plants and is organic.
“Powdery mildew right now is becoming a problem because of high humidity,” he said. “So, what’s nice about neem oil is, it will also get some of the mildew and some of the funguses, but it also controls, like, spider mites. So, that’s the really great thing about neem oil, if you’re treating for insects and you’re a beginner and you don’t want to worry about your pets and the neighbors and yourself.”
Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
‘This is something that, at one point, my kids can be part of it’
Mariana Steganha co-owns the Biggby Coffee franchise location in Lathrup Village with her husband, Rodrigo.
Originally from Brazil, she came to the U.S. with her husband, who had a temporary work assignment in 2016. She said he was offered a full-time position with his company in the U.S., and ultimately, they ended up staying stateside.
Steganha said that after the birth of her second child, they decided that a traditional 9-5 job was not something that was suitable for her anymore. They decided to look into franchising their own business. Steganha said their neighbor is the area representative for Biggby franchise locations and asked if they were interested in opening one. Since coffee is such an important part of Brazilian culture, they thought it was the perfect type of business to get involved in.
“My husband thought it was a good idea to own a business and long term, we would have more time for our family, too,” Steganha said. “This is something that, at one point, my kids can be part of it.”
They opened the franchise in November 2024. She said she really has enjoyed getting to know the community through the business.
Like Wu, Steganha said that the biggest
challenge she had when coming to the country was the language barrier. She said her husband spoke the language well, but she didn’t. She did, however, have a foundational understanding of the written language and was able to learn it by submersion with her first job in the U.S.
“I got to learn how to communicate. I had to face challenges like talking to people over the phone, especially angry customers, with some delayed orders, for example. So you know customer service, so I was the first one to take the heat,” she said. “So that brought me a lot of experience. For me, when I’m here at the cashier talking to people, that’s something that I really appreciate because it’s how everything started for me when I started my career path.
“I like that, and people get curious and say, ‘Hey, where are you from? I noticed your accent,’ and we start to get to know each other,” Steganha said.
She said getting to know the community and her staff is her favorite part of owning the coffee shop. She said she has learned a lot from both her customers and her staff.
Wu has been in the restaurant industry for years and said that her Novi customers have continued to frequent her Livonia locations. Eggert and Steganha, who recently opened their businesses, said that they just want people to know they exist.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
18A/ ROYAL OAK REVIEW • JULY 9, 2025
JULY 12
Oakland County Football Club: Semi-professional men’s soccer team, last game of season at 7 p.m., Royal Oak High School Stadium, 1500 Lexington Blvd., (248) 629-0251, oaklandcountyfc.com
Berkley Street Art Fest: Features chalk artists, vendors and food trucks, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Coolidge Highway between Catalpa Drive and Beverly Boulevard, berkleystreetartfest.com
Berkley Garden Walk: Free tour of 10-13 local yards, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., maps available at Berkley Public Library, 3155 Coolidge Highway, Berkley Parks and Recreation, 2400 Robina Ave., Berkley CIty Hall, 3338 Coolidge Highway, The Lunch Cafe, 3116 12 Mile Road, and BGW Facebook page, berkleygardenwalk@ gmail.com
JULY 16
Arboretum walk: Led by Royal Oak Nature Society, 7 p.m., park at north end of Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center lot, 3500 Marais Ave., romi. gov/411/nature-walks
JULY 23
Blood drive: 7-11 a.m., Administration Building at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak, (866) 642-5663, donate.michigan.versiti.org
Learn about dangers of synthetic drugs: Hear from Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, Oak Park Police Director Steve Cooper, Oakland County Undersheriff Timothy Willis and Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott, community forum moderated by former WXYZ Channel 7 investigative reporter Ronnie Dahl, 5:308:30 p.m., Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, (248) 796-5582, cityofsouthfield.com
JULY 26
Pride Royal Oak: Includes Ginger Minj and Nina West from “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” as entertainers and hosts, performances by singers Ben Sharkey, Baddie Brooks, “The Voice” duo Bell Bastien, drag artists and headliner TBD, queer author panel with Minj,
West and others, 75-plus vendors and nonprofits, food trucks, kids zone and more, 1-11 p.m., Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St., prideroyaloak.com
Mushroom walk: Led by Royal Oak Nature Society member and botanist/mycologist Mary Fredricks, 10 a.m., Tenhave Woods in Royal Oak, park at Marais/ Lexington lot and walk 300 feet east to entrance, romi.gov/411/nature-walks
Day on the Town: Find discounted merchandise, food trucks, chalk art displays, kids activities, giveaways and more, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in stores and along streets and sidewalks in downtown Birmingham, map available week of event at allinbirmingham.com/visitors/ dayonthetown
AUG. 2
Muscle and More @ the Museum: Car show with cash prizes, drawings, awards and activities, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., held at and benefits Royal Oak Historical Society Museum, 1411 Webster Road, (248) 4391501, curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org, www. royaloakhistoricalsociety.org
ONGOING
Farmers markets: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays until late November and Saturdays year-round, also antiques and collectibles from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays year-round, plus food truck rally with live music, vendors, face painting, kids crafts and bounce house from 4-8 p.m. every second Wednesday of month through October, 316 E. 11 Mile Road, farmersmarket@romi.gov, (248) 246-3276, see additional special dates at romi. gov/1533/farmers-market, read story about market celebrating centennial at candgnews.com
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 12, July 26 and Aug. 9, Southeast Municipal Lot at South Main Street and Gardner Avenue, cityofclawson.com
Summer Concert Series: Hear Klezundhiet and Firewalkers July 10, First Raitt (Bonnie Raitt tribute) and Room Full of Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix tribute) July 17, The Beggars with special guests The Custodians and Sponge July 24, Bob Mervak and Killer Flamingos July
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
31, Theo Gridiron & Friends and Detroit Centrix Aug. 7, and The Jeff Scott Band and The Detroit Retro Society Aug. 14, first acts at 7 p.m. and second at 8:30 p.m., plus students from Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music at 5:30 p.m. and DJ Invisible between sets, bring blanket or lawn chair, free event also includes face painting, balloon animals, climbing tower (first four shows only) and complimentary ice cream for ages 12 and younger, Centennial Commons, 221 E. Third St. in Royal Oak, royaloakchamber.com
Woodward Memories: Exhibit highlights drive-ins, bowling alleys and businesses along Woodward Avenue during ’50s and ’60s, on display 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until July 26, Royal Oak Historical Society and Museum, 1411 Webster Road, curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org, (248) 439-1501, royaloakhistoricalsociety.org
‘Glass53’ art exhibit: Features 400 pieces of glass art from around world, on display until Sept. 19, Habatat Galleries, 4400 Fernlee Ave. in Royal Oak, habatat.com, read story at candgnews.com
Royal Oak Leprechauns baseball: Member of Northwoods League (collegiate summer baseball), home games on select dates until Aug. 5, The Lucky Corner at Memorial Park, 31050 Woodward Ave., (248) 9300388, royaloakleprechauns.com
Kit Homes of Clawson exhibit: Includes advertisements, photos, artifacts and more about unique early 20th century housing, 2-5 p.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays until Dec. 31, Clawson Historical Museum, 41 Fisher Court, cityofclawson.com, (248) 588-9169, historicalmuseum@cityofclawson.coms
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 9:30 a.m. every second and fourth Wednesdays of month, The Avenue Family Restaurant, 31253 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak, RSVP to Marilyn at (248) 543-1018, widowedfriends.com
Harmony United Chorusopen rehearsals: Practice with men’s barbershop-style group from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., greaterdetroit.org
Monthly groups: For kids, LGBTQIA+, book clubs for horror fans and more, Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, (248) 246-3700, romi.gov/1532/ library
• STEM and electronics hobbyists meet 6-7:30 p.m. every first Wednesday, journaling and discussion group for older adults meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. every third Monday, book club meets 1-2 p.m. every third Wednesday, and writing group meets 6-7:30 p.m. every fourth Wednesday, Blair Memorial Library, 416 N. Main St. in Clawson, (248) 588-5500, clawson.lib. mi.us
‘Macbeth’: Steampunk-style performance presented by Shakespeare Royal Oak as part of 25th anniversary season, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays July 24-Aug. 3, Starr Jaycee Park, 1321 W. 13 Mile Road, shakespeareroyaloak.com, read story at candgnews.com
‘Beetlejuice, Jr.’: Musical based on Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy-horror film, presented by Stagecrafters Youth Theatre, select times July 25-27 and July 31Aug. 3, The Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in Royal Oak, (248) 541-6430, stagecrafters.org
Concerts in the Park: Hear The Tread Lightlies July 8, Urban Tropical July 15, Vavoom July 22 and The Stone Blossoms July 29, 7 p.m. with food trucks from 6:308:30 p.m., bring blanket or chair, Scotia Park, near Lincoln Drive and Scotia Road in Huntington Woods, facebook.com/mihuntingtonwoods
Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less: Virtual 15-week program presented by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services and led by registered dietitian nutritionist, free for first-time participants ages 60 and older, register at (833) 262-2200 or wellnessprograms@ageways. org, tinyurl.com/agewaysworkshops
Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
ADHD meetings: Hosted by CHADD of Eastern Oakland County, for adults and parents, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Zoom, see schedule on chadd.net/chapterevents/527
Cars
with an outdoor barbecue June 20 at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield Township. However, because of unpredictable weather, the group brought the hot dogs and potato salad indoors to the Tru by Hilton Hotel in Chesterfield Township.
The June 21 agenda was to tour Stahls Auto Museum in Chesterfield Township, drive over to Selfridge Military Air Museum in Harrison Township, and have dinner at the Sugarbush Tavern in Chesterfield Township. The parade of cars also headed to Sanders Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppe in Clinton Township Friday night.
“I’m glad to be here among friends. This is what it’s all about,” Golomb, 75, said. “I grew up in Saginaw and my family worked for General Motors. Cars were my thing. I enjoyed them. I like unusual cars.”
Golomb can’t get enough of his 1955 Messerschmitt.
“It’s a two-seater. There’s a front and back seat. What I like most is sharing the cars with other people, letting kids see them and letting adults see them,” he said. “They’re fun. They’re unique. They’re different.”
Golomb also owns a 1957 BMW Isetta and a 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom One.
One reason for the Brandenburg Park barbecue was so that a small group of local Amphicar owners could make a splash in Lake St. Clair. That fell through, but International Amphicar Owners Club members still met up with the group at the hotel.
The Amphicar, designed by Hans Trippel, operates on land and water. According to the website rarehistoricalphotos.com, the Amphicar was manufactured in West Germany and first appeared in the U.S. at the 1961 New York Auto Show. The website states the Amphicar’s engine was mounted at the rear of the vehicle, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. On the wa-
ter, the same engine drives a pair of reversible propellers at the rear with a second gear lever engaging forward or reverse drive.
Fraser resident Chuck Reiner, 70, owns a 1968 blue Amphicar.
“It’s all my wife’s fault,” he joked. “She saw an Amphicar at the Woodward Dream Cruise.”
His wife, Deanna, thought it would be the ideal vehicle to take up north.
“I did end up finding one. I take it to a lot of car shows whenever possible and on Lake St. Clair. You can seat two people in the front and three people in the back,” Reiner said. “On water, it felt very unnatural at first. You’re driving your car into the water. After you’ve done it a couple times, it feels enjoyable. It takes forever to get up to speed. We go on all kinds of rivers, lakes, all over the place in different states.”
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The Reiners trailer the car to Florida in the winter to meet other IAOC members for some water time.
“We have members throughout the country and throughout the world,” Reiner said.
Other IAOC members Tom Hurley, of Fair Haven, and Jeff McKeown, of Chesterfield Township, attended Meet in the Middle. McKeown has a 1964 Amphicar he takes out often with his significant other, Sandra Shenduk. McKeown morphed into owning the vehicle after his uncle sent him a photo in one.
“It’s just awesome. We get together in the summer and go to Lake St. Clair. We can travel in the shallow areas and by the bays and hang out with the boaters and go swimming,” McKeown said. “Little kids love it.”
“We get so many people stop what
they’re doing and take a picture of the car,” Shenduk said.
Rumor has it that even singer Uncle Kracker once snapped a photo of them. Harsens Island in St. Clair County is a favorite spot for Shenduk, and McKeown has even medaled at the Algonac boat show. Not content with just owning one vintage model, McKeown also has a 1948 Crosley wagon. Hurley said he purchased his 1964 red Amphicar from George Gray, an announcer from “The Price Is Right” who also hosted the “Weakest Link” game show. Although the Amphicar “doesn’t go very fast, everyone loves it. Everyone is waving at you. Everyone is looking at you,” Hurley said. “I’ve swam out of it. The first time driving it was a little scary. We’ve been to Lake Michigan. We trailer them and go all over. Just putzing along, it’s relaxing to me.”
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
The convoy of micro/mini cars heads to Sanders Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppe in Clinton Township June 20.
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Sr. Medical Physicist - Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear. William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. NO VISA SPONSORSHIP OFFERED FOR THIS POSITION. Duties include the following within Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine: Evaluation, acceptance testing and annual testing of x-ray, fuoroscopy, CT, mammography, nuclear and PET imaging equipment; develop and oversee quality assurance programs; maintain ACR accreditation; optimize image quality for all diagnostic areas; clinical involvement in radiopharmaceutical dosimetry and treatment with alpha, beta and gamma emitting radionuclides; educate medical staf, radiology residents and radiation technologists; and stay abreast of developments in the feld to facilitate introduction of innovative technologies. Requires: Doctorate or foreign equivalent in Medical Physics or related, plus 60 months of experience as a Medical Physicist or related. Above experience must include fve years of clinical experience in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine. Must be certifed in Diagnostic Medical Physics by the American Board of Radiology (“ABR”) and certifed in Nuclear Medical Physics by the ABR or the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine. Email resume, with Job ID R179388 in the subject line, to apply10097@corewellhealth.org.
0205-2528
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Bathrooms
BATHROOM REMODELING
BasicBathrooms
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Brick Work
AA4DABLEMASONRY
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Brick Work
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Brick Work
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CENSODEVELOPMENT
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Carpentry
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Carpet Cleaning
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Cleaning Service
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Decks/Patios
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Electrical
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CASTLEELECTRIC
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Gutters
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Gutters
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Handyman Services
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HANDYMAN
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Hauling & Waste Removal
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Heating & Cooling HEATMASTERS
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Home Improvement
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Home Repairs
Kitchens/ Cabinets/ Countertops
MR.BACKSPLASH ·CUSTOM BACKSPLASHES ·CUSTOMKITCHENS ·COUNTERTOPS *Granite*Quartz* ·CustomBathrooms ·TILEREPAIRS *FREEESTIMATES* 586-552-5416 mrbacksplash.com
Landscaping & Water Gardens
JAY'SHOMESERVICES
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ALLTIMATE OUTDOORSERVICES
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SUPREMEOUTDOOR SPECIALISTS
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Painting
586-792-3117
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(586)229-4267 AmericanPainting Residential/Commercial •Interior/25YearsExp. •PowerWashing •Insurance•Drywall •PlasterRepair •DeckRepairs•Cleanouts•HomeRepairs •SeniorDiscounts PEAKPAINTING Custom-Painting, Commercial/Residential, Interior/Exterior. Drywall-Repair,Paper Removal,Carpentry. *WillBeatAnyOther ReasonableEstimate! 35yrsexp.Sen.Disc.Ins. CC-Accepted/References. 586-722-8381 Hauling & Waste
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2025SPRING
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Commercial/Residential
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Painting
STEVE'SCUSTOM PAINTING
586-350-1717
Since1985 ProfessionalQuality, Neat,MeticulousPrep, Drywall/PlasterRepair, Interior/Exterior, Insured,References, Free-Estimate, 10%SeniorDiscount.
ANDERSON Painting&Carpentry
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ANYONE'S PAINTER
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FARR'SPAINTING
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VKPERFECTPAINTING
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Roofng
SILVERSMITHROOF MAINTENANCE
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APEX PLUMBERSCORP
586-210-0903
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Plumbing
MASTER PLUMBER
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EAPLUMBING ANDDRAIN
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Plumbing
WATERWORK
Plumbing.com
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•SewerCamera •WaterHeaters •SumpPumps •BackflowTesting 248-542-8022
SameDayEmergency ServiceAvailable Reliable/Experienced License#8003885
MinorShingle ReplacementSpecial, Re-Roofs,Tear-Offs, Flat-Roofs, AllInsuranceWork, Residential/Commercial WeAcceptAll MajorCreditCards 248-707-4851
AA4DABLEROOFING
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MICHAELNORTON BUILDERSINC.
BuildingValueEveryday 586-436-9600
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Powerwashing
AJʼsPRESSURE CLEANING& SEALCOATING
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BRIGHTSIDE
PRESSURE&WINDOW CLEANING
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SeniorDiscounts 586-360-0827
Professional Services
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BROTHERSROOFING
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CHERRY CONSTRUCTION
Roofing,Gutters,Cement, RefinishingHardwood Floors,NewHomes, Remodels,Additions, Doors,Windows, Fencing,Decks, Kitchens,Bathrooms. 586-291-2647
Tree Service
BERGBROS.LLC.
“FullyInsured, HighlyReferred.” SeniorDiscounts Tree-Removal,Stump Grinding,Tree-Trimming, Hedging,Shaping, Emergency-Service Residential/Commercial Free-Estimates (586)262-3060
DAVE'STREE&SHRUB
25%-SpringSpecial. Insured,Emergency StormDamage, Large-TreeRemovals, Mulchinbeds/spreading, Trimming,Stump-Grinding,Season-Firewood (100acord)30YrsExp. (586)216-0904 davestreeandshrub.com
ELITETREE SERVICE
"Bringing30yearsof experiencetoyourdoor!" Treetrimming, removals&stump grinding.Insured&FREE estimateswithfairprices! FirewoodForSale 586-756-0757
Plumbing
